5 Tasty Places to Try While Exploring the Tallinn Food Scene

Food in Tallinn is fantastic. I’ll be honest, I had little to no-expectations about the food scene in Tallinn.

The capital city of Estonia, is located in Northern Europe on the Baltic Sea. The Old Town is one of the best preserved medieval cities in all of Europe giving the city lots of added charm and character. Though I wasn’t headed here in pursuit of delicious food, to my delight, that’s what I found.

This post is all about the Tallinn food scene and places you should try.

1. rataskaevu | 16

I must admit, I arrived completely naive about the Tallinn food scene. We made a reservation at Rataskaevu | 16 and I was blown away. This was one of the most exquisite dining experiences we’ve ever had.

The staff was outstanding from the time we entered their lively and quaint restaurant. Our waitress was helpful with making menu recommendations, telling us what’s unique to Estonia and exuding pride in the restaurant.

At the end of the meal she brought us a traditional bread pudding dessert and a handwritten note. We left the meal with full bellies and a smile on our faces. What a special restaurant tucked away in Tallinn.

2. Karjase Sai

If you’ve read my other article, The Best Bakery in Tallinn, then you know about my love for Karjase Sai bakery.

I love finding a unique bakery or cafe when traveling in a new city. Happily, this one just so happened to have one of the best pastries I’ve ever had in my entire life. That isn’t hyperbole. I truly mean that. The rosemary and sea salt croissant twist is outrageously delicious and I think about traveling back to Estonia solely to have it again.

3. pub kompressor

Yum, yum and more yum. Pub Kompressor is a pancake pub in the heart of Tallinn’s Old Town.

If you’re looking for a delicious treat in Old Town then Pub Kompressor is for you. These springy, chewy, thin pancakes can either be made savory or sweet depending on your craving. After sampling a few different flavors the pancake with raspberries and sweetened condensed milk was our absolute favorite.

These treats are delicious at any time of day. For example, it can serve as a midday, sugary pick-me-up with a cup of coffee, or eaten as a late night dessert paired with a mug of mulled wine. I believe that Pub Kompressor deserves a top spot on the best Tallinn food lists.

4. pierre chocolaterie

Pierre Chocolaterie has been around since 1937 and is a perfect midday stop while sightseeing in Tallinn.

Tucked down an alley is the cafe with a cozy maximalist interior with fluffy couches, suede and velvet upholstery, lamps and dark-wood tables. It feels like stepping into your old Estonian grandmother’s living room.

Grab a warm hot chocolate made from their own chocolate and tuck into a cozy chair or sit out on the cobblestoned streets and enjoy! Even though this isn’t exactly “food in Tallinn” because it’s a drink, I think it still belongs on this list. Another option is for you to purchase some of their chocolate treats to enjoy now or save for later.

5. restoran olde hansa

It feels wrong to make a list of restaurants and food in Tallinn without mentioning Restoran Olde Hansa.

Located in Tallinn’s Old Town, is this medieval-style restaurant serving dishes from the 15th century. The experience is truly one-of-a-kind. The attention to detail of the menu, the recipes, the music, the outfits worn by the staff is all meticulously and intentionally curated to transport diners back to the 15th century.

Tallinn is one of the best preserved medieval cities from the 13th century. The architecture, cobblestone streets and vibe of the city all makes you feel transported back to medieval times. This restaurant pushes you past observing the medieval history and allows you to immerse yourself in it.

Hopefully you added these places to your list of places to try! I hope you get to enjoy the delicious food in Tallinn!